Vacation from Jesus

 

Romans 7:14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.

     I opened my prayer journal ready to write and discovered my last entry had been on June 1^st. Oops, I did it again. I took a vacation from Jesus.

     This happened a few years back and I vowed not to let it happen again. So each summer since then, I immerse myself in a summer Bible study, read fiction by Christian authors, and only miss church when we are on vacation.

     This summer I didn’t get the study organized. I didn’t study God’s word. I did read one book by a Christian author. I missed more Sunday church than I should have.

     So what do I do now? It’s time to get back on track. It starts for me with quiet time in the morning and really hearing Jesus speak to me. I tend to do all the talking. I need to return to my happy place with Jesus and let Him know how sorry I am to leave Him standing alone and waiting for me.

     It’s time for some balance again. Yes, summers are great with the kids but truthfully I love the routine that comes when the kids are back in school. I like my alone time to gather my thoughts and get focused on my writing and studying. I love the chance to again meet with my small group and dive into God’s word.

     So what about you? Did you take a vacation from Jesus too? What do you plan to change in the weeks ahead?

The LORD knows

"If you will consent to the process(of getting out of the pit), waiting upon God as He begins shifting, shoving, and rearranging things for your release, you can start getting excited because it will happen." From Get Out of that Pit by Beth Moore

     These three words-shifting, shoving, and rearranging-really jumped out at me when I read this. So often in my life I doubt God is at work on my issues and I take matters into my own hands. Especially as moms; we are so good at this. I shift schedules and plans to make it all work for the family. I shove my own needs aside to serve others. I rearrange my plans when I have to drop everything for a sick child.  Those aren't necessarily bad things, but too often I exclude God. Then there are those issues with my family that I heap onto my own plate making matters worse. Worry about where Liz should go to junior high. Kyra's classes for next year and her college plans. Where Ian should go to Kindergarden. 

     Then in our Esther study I was reminded that when I struggle with the responsibility of the "how", God is already at work. He is at work shifting, shoving, and rearranging. He knows the answers before I do. He makes the plans and sets things in motion. He knows the promises He has for me. He loves me and wants what is best for me and family. I can get excited because I am standing on the promises of God to get me to the other side.

     So what's my role in this process. Stand back and pray. Thank Him in advance for the answers. Be patient as He works. Listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit. And when He speaks, obey and go when He asks me to move forward, trusting Him. He knows the way. He sees it all when I don't. Believe. Trust. 

     "The LORD knows how to rescue the godly from trails and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgement."  2 Peter 2:9

     He knows.

Badges of Honor

     Last week I saw a commercial on television for some new formula face cream to erase your brown age flecks. I looked down to study the few flecks on the backs of my hands and wondered if it would work on me. For a moment I got caught up in the world's view of beauty. It's so easy to do, especially as a woman. The images to be perfect-just the right clothes, hair and make-up, every line of aging erased.
     Instead I am honored with a God who shows me a new way to look at my flecks. "Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come with me."(Song of Songs 2:10) In God's kingdom my flecks are badges of honor, of perseverance, love, determination, sacrifice.
     Many of you have heard me speak of my great-aunt Laura who went home when she was 101 years old. Her face was wrinkled and covered in those beautiful flecks and I loved her all the more for them. She raised four children and cared for her grandparents, cooked for oodles of family even when she really didn't like to, buried some of her own children before she would go home and countless other acts of love that any mother and friend would do for others.
     Every one of her wrinkles and flecks were her badges of honor. She was an example of a true noble warrior in God's kingdom and each wrinkle was her badge of glory revealing her devotion to the King. As I write this, I'm feeling sorry for those who don't appreciate their wrinkles. They have forgotten that we are made in the image of God and through our trials, we are his workmanship, called to reveal his glory in this lost and mixed up world.
     "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world."(John 15:18-19) Isn't it great to be chosen by the King?
     So what has God given you for a badge? Wrinkles, a hand that doesn't work so well, a limp, an illness? Be reminded that we always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. (2 Cor 4:10)
     Glory in your badges and walk as a true warrior in God's kingdom. Wear them proud.
    

A Praying Life

     During a summer swim meet I asked a friend what she was reading on her Kindle. She shared how much she was learning from a book called A Praying Life-Connecting with God in a Distracting World. So I looked it up and discovering the cover looked familiar, I found it unread on my bookshelf. I added it to my stack and recently picked it up.

     Loving this book. Paul Miller gives voice to how we really think. In our minds we think we should come to God all perfect with our lives in order. Instead he shows us how Jesus asks us to come weary and messy. Weary to me means lost, broken, fed up with discouragement, prone to have lost my hope, sad, wondering how to do it all, tired with a capital T.

     In reality, Jesus is holding out his hand saying, “Come to me, I KNOW you-all the hurts and sorrows, your plans and agendas, the ups and downs of life. Come and take my hand and I will be there to walk you through it. My desire is to give you the peace and love and tenderness you so desperately seek.”

     The book doesn’t gloss over our true struggles with prayer but asks us to take an honest look at our life and ask God to enter into everything we are doing. I’m excited to read this book each morning but also wanting to savor the lessons and truly put them into practice. Get this book and then call me and we’ll have coffee. Thanks Kaylyn. When I’m done, I’ll call for the next suggestion.

“Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

Good stuff vs. God stuff

John 5:19 “Jesus answered them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.’”

Watching the video from our Bible study, Pricilla Shirer pointed out this verse. Jesus was so in tune with the Father, that He only did what God called Him to do. She showed us an example of Jesus leaving behind crowds of people, waiting to be healed, but the Father told Him to move on and go to Capernaum. Jesus left behind the good stuff for the God stuff.

     What about me? Do I listen when God calls me away from the good stuff to do the God stuff? Yes, sometimes the good stuff is godly stuff but is it truly that which God has called me to do?

     A few years ago I jumped on board with Juice Plus+. Yes, it was good and helped others to find good nutrition and knowledge and even gave me a very healthy pregnancy and my son Ian. But looking back, I also see that it took me away from my writing.

     With August and the approach of another school year, I have to ask myself in advance, where am I planning to spend my time and energy. Am I planning a schedule that allows the best for me and my family by allowing God’s plans to shine through? It gets so easy during this season to fill up our time but do I consult God before saying yes to every committee and volunteer opportunity?

     “Then Joshua rose early in the morning” (Joshua 3:1) In your planning, schedule rising early to spend time with your Father. Give Him the opportunity to speak, allowing you to be more aware of His activity and where you should follow.

Settled?

     I'm reading a book entitled 'The Rest of God-Restoring Your Soul by Restoring Sabbath' by Mark Buchanan. Today's chapter was Restore: Stopping to Become Whole and he asked the question, Do you want to be well? Jesus often asked the physically sick if they wanted their healing. He pointed out that when we are physically sick, we do everything in our power to get well. For the last two days, my shoulder has been hurting. Slept wrong or something. So I've taken Motrin and I had every intention of resting and using heat. I tried sleeping on the other side last night. Doctors, medicine, treatment, chemo, surgery. But what do we do when it's our soul?
     We become comfortable in our weakness using it to cast blame and make excuses. Recently in my quiet time with Jesus, He revealed to me that along with my trust issues with family and friends, I don't trust Him. Ouch. I've been making excuses and have avoided Jesus even though I know what can make me well. Do I really like being this way? Why have I not thrown myself upon God with wild abandonment and really declared my true feelings to those around me. I want to follow God whole-heartedly but have settled for a small fraction of obedience and blessing.                                              SETTLED.
     It reminds me of the video from our Bible study Tuesday night. Two of the tribes of Israelites chose not to follow Joshua into the promised land. They thought they had enough of what God was offering and settled. They stayed put and missed out on more of what God truly desired to give them. Unopened gifts just waiting, sitting there.
     What gifts does God have sitting before me?
     Am I ready to be well? 

Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I am about. See for Yourself whether I've done anything wrong-then guide me on the road to eternal life.      Psalm 139:23-24 (The Message)

Grandma Great

     Hebrews Chapter 11 is considered our genealogy of faith. By faith Noah, by faith Abraham, by faith Sarah, by faith Moses. We too have that genealogy of faith.

     Grandma told me once when staying with us that she wanted to be a missionary. Well she didn’t make it to another country but more importantly she became a testament of faith to her friends and community and most of all to her family.

     As the youngest child, Grandma never felt she really knew some of her brothers and sisters and therefore wanted to ensure that her own children would know each other. This became her legacy-a family connected through holidays, vacations and reunions. For us as the grandchildren, we were blessed to spend time with aunts, uncles and cousins.

     We each grew up with our own stories of campouts in the back yard or back room, Grandpa’s late night trips to the kitchen for ice cream, walks to the park and then jumping into a freezing swimming pool in Marcus.

     We each helped Grandma at the library and ran all over Marcus and back home to Grandma’s cookies. I remember creamed tuna on toast, Kix cereal, baths in the sunk in tub, endless board games and piles of books on every end table.

     Her legacy includes memories of family camping trips to Wisconsin, catching fireflies in South Bend, sledding at the golf course in Burlington, and in Omaha an old metal highchair that held all the little cousins.

     The word that has played through my mind this week is perseverance. Grandma has with perseverance run the race set before her. She has shown us what the fruit of the Spirit looks like-love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

     When I told Liz Marie that Grandma Great had died, we talked about the major party happening in heaven. She is now with her brothers and sisters, a mother he never grew up knowing, her father, grandparents, a child and grandchild she didn’t know this side of heaven, Alan, Jon, and Grandpa.

     The highlight came when Jesus took her by the hand and said, “Well done my good and faithful servant-Welcome home.”

     And so now we can add a verse 41 to Hebrews 11, “By faith Helen”.

(Picture taken of Grandma Great and Ian when he was 4 days old. Grandma had been living in Colorado but then went back to Marcus, Iowa the next week.)